you know that satisfied feeling you get after a delicious meal when all you want to do is take a long nap? there is actually science behind why food makes us sleepy — also known as a ‘food coma.’
when we eat, our stomach produces gastrin, a hormone that promotes digestive juices. as the food travels to the small intestine, the cells in the gut produce more hormones that signal other bodily functions like blood flow regulation. when you’re digesting your food, more blood goes into the stomach and gut to transport newly absorbed metabolites. it leaves less blood in the rest of the body, which can cause you to feel sleepy or even light-headed.
there are other reasons for feeling tired after you eat, and according to science alert, if we can learn more about people’s sleep patterns, we could understand what causes some to gain weight or develop diseases like diabetes.
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